NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 October 1894, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

Shanghai, October 23.

The Chinese have landed further munitions of war at Taku, on the western shores of the Pechili sea.

They have also decided to make New Chang at the head of the Liunghung Gulf, the base of their operations, should the Japanese attempt to advance on Pekin by crossing the Yalu River. ' London, October 22. The Times advocates that the colonies joining in the Anglo-Japanese treaty should take the benefits to be derived over the balance of a possible influx of Japanese. Sir W. B. Perceval, Agent-General for New Zealand, is urging the formation of a Colonial Distributing Company, which shall focus the produce trade in London and reduce the outlay in commissions. He proposes that the necessary capital shall be subscribed in England. , ' .London, October 21. The Czar is slowly sinking, and relatives surround his bed. He has not slept for ten nights. It is not believed that he will be able to witness his son’s marriage. The St. Petersburg Bourse is paralysed, and the Paris one is excited. The Times correspondent says that Paris is plunged into grief and dismay, Stepniak, the Russian reformer, considers that Grand Duke Valdemir is reactionary and unpopular, while the policy of the Czarewitch is an engima. He does not believe the Czarewitch is likely to bring in liberal reforms except under pressure.

The Pope has wired to tha Czar that he does not cease to pray for his recovery. St. Petersburg, October 22.

Princess Alix has arrived at Livadia, and it is reported that her marriage to the Czarewitch will be celebrated on Wednesday. The Czar’s memory and eyesight are affected. He himself asked that the marriage of the Czarewitch should be hastened, in the hope of being able to witness it. •

The Grand Dukes Yaldimir, Paul, and Sergius, the Queen of Greece, and Father John of Cronstadt, priest, and miracle worker, have been summoned to Livadia. The medical bulletin has fallen like a knell on the whole of Russia. The streets of St. Petersburg are thronged with excited crowds reading it. There is great excitement in Moscow owing to rumours which are current that the Czarewitch refuses to ascend the Throne. The Czar, it is said, is hastening the marriage with a view to compel his son to abandon hia idea of renunciation of the Throne. The Imperial Council advise that the second son, Grand Duke George, should renounce his rights as heir presumptive in favour of his brother, the Grand DnkeMichael. . ;v : The Czarina is thoroughly prostrati‘d. The only bulletin issued to-day states that the Czar slept intermittently for five hours, and that he rose with his usual appetite, but his strength is decreasing ; otherwise bis condition is not changed. Daily prayers are offered up in every church in Russia, and also by the army and navy. The Russian cruiser Kubanatez has been allowed to pass the Dardenelles to join Admiral Avellan’s fleet in the Mediterranean. Belgium, October 28. The Premier was defeated at the elec’ions, and this is regarded as tantamount to condemning the principle of protection. The Chamber of Deputies consists of 100 clericals, 25 socialists, and 23 progressionists. , Hobart, October 23. Twelve sawmills, employing 300 bands, are about to start to prepare wood blocks for shipment to London. Sydney, October 23. A New Zealander, whose position enables him to speak with authority, combats the statements abont the distress in yesterday’s Telegraph. The Herald, referring to the influx of passengers from New Zealand, considers it is pretty clear that it has not much to do with Coolgardie or Wyalong, but the result of propulsion from behind rather than allm-ement from before.

The Cricket Association, after hearing an explanation from the President of the Victorian Association that Mr Blackham did not intend to impute dishonesty to the New South Wales umpire in the inter-colonial match last season, has rescinded the previous resolution, thus ending the difficulty between the two associations. Melbourne, October 23. Fairly satisfactory trials have been made with the starting machine at Fiemington under disadvantageous circumstances, the stable boys being up on all sorts and conditions of hors°s. The result of the trial was that the committee of the Y.R.C. decided to use Messrs Johnstone and Gleeson’s invention during the Cup meeting. Townsville, October 23.

The chief engineer of the Ross River Meat Works has made a successful experiment in thawing meat. It is exposed to a strong blast of air at about freezing point, by which means it is restored to its original condition, perfect in color and of excellent flavor.